Oral History Index, part 1

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

NOTE: Oral histories with a speaker icon to their left are audio-enhanced: that is, they contain audio clips from the original oral history interviews with these significant figures in the Mississippi civil rights struggle. This audio is delivered using an IBM HotMedia™ Java applet, and no player software is required on your computer.

	Sandra Adickes - Interview conducted on 10-21-1999 with Dr. Sandra Adickes (born 1933). In 1963, Dr. Adickes taught African-Americans in freedom school efforts in Prince Edward County, Virginia. In 1964, she was recruited to teach in Mississippi Freedom Summer. Dr. Adickes lobbied, raised funds, solicited book contributions, and recruited teachers. She taught in a freedom school in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for a six-week session, and she accompanied some of her students in an effort to integrate Hattiesburg's public library. After being refused service at a Kress store because she was with an African-American, she was arrested and charged with vagrancy. Later she sued and won a cash settlement in the U.S. Supreme Court which was dispersed for education to people who had been active in civil rights.
	Reuben Anderson - Interview conducted on 12-18-1997 with Reuben Anderson. He was the first African-American to graduate from Ole Miss Law School. His professional experience includes the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., 1967-75; municipal judge for the City of Jackson, 1975-77; county court judge for Hinds County, 1977-82; circuit court judge for the Seventh Circuit Court District, 1982-85; Mississippi Supreme Court justice, 1985-90; and Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law and Government at the University of Mississippi, fall of 1995.
	Gladys Austin - Interview conducted on 05-02-1995 with Miss Gladys Austin (born 1927). She was inducted into the Jones County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hall of Fame in 1992. She was the second African-American person and the only African-American female to receive this award and was recognized in Who's Who among America's Teachers, first Edition 1990.
	Constance Baker - Two interviews conducted on 04-03-1995 and 06-08-1995 with Constance Baker (born 1912). Mrs. Baker has spent her life working for civil rights and in teaching. She was involved in the Head Start program from its inception and was still active in the NAACP at the time of the interview.
	Earl W. Banks - Interview conducted on August 26, 1975 with Earl W. Banks, 1905-1986. He enrolled at Alcorn University in Lorman, Mississippi, for one year, then transferred to Jackson State University where he completed high school. He continued in the program at Jackson State University for two years, then transferred to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he finished his undergraduate degree in 1926. After graduation, Mr. Banks returned to Jackson and became a partner in Peoples Funeral Home. While in Jackson, Mr. Banks was well-known for his active support of civic improvement projects. He participated in fund-raising for St. Dominic's Hospital and the YMCA. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the State Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association, and worked with the United Way.
	Judge Fred L. Banks, Jr. - Interview conducted on 03-05-1998 with Judge Fred L. Banks, Jr. (born 1942). In the late 1960's, Judge Banks began his law career by serving for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He was elected three times to the House of Representatives and served alternately as chair of the House Ethics committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and the Legislative Black Caucus. In February 1985, he was appointed judge of the Seventh Circuit Court District (Hinds and Yazoo Counties) and is projected to continue to serve until 2004 when his term is over.
	Rims Barber (1995) - An interview conducted on 07-05-1995 with Mr. Rims Barber (born 1936). In 1964, he was a twenty-seven-year-old Presbyterian minister in Davenport, Iowa. He came to Mississippi in response to a request for volunteers to help with Freedom Summer from the National Council of Churches Commission on Religion and Race. As a white man, he says, he came to broaden "support for what people were doing" in Mississippi. He stayed in the homes of local residents in Canton and engaged in door-to-door canvassing, talking to people about voter registration.
	Rims Barber (1997) - Interview conducted on 08-21-1997 with Rims Barber (born 1936). In 1964, he participated in Mississippi Freedom Summer with the National Council of Churches and returned to Mississippi with the Delta Ministry in 1965 to work in Canton. He became their Education Director in 1966 and moved to Greenville. Later, he helped establish a Jackson office to assist Representative Robert Clark and work on statewide agendas. In 1977, he went to work for the Children's Defense Fund as the Director of the Mississippi Project until they closed the Mississippi office in 1989. He founded the Mississippi Human Services Agenda to carry on the work of research and advocacy with an emphasis on welfare, education, and health.
	Ariel Barnes - Two interviews conducted on 04-01-1993 and 01-06-1995 with Ariel Barnes (born 1917). Mrs. Barnes was born in Forest, Mississippi, but moved to Hattiesburg shortly after. She attended Alcorn University, where she earned a degree enabling her to teach school. She taught at Rowan in Hattiesburg. Additionally, she worked at the Hattiesburg Library's branch on Sixth Street.
	O.H. Barnett - An interview conducted on 10-24-1975 with the Honorable OH Barnett (born 1902). Mr. Barnett was elected Circuit Court Judge in 1958 and served until 1975. He presided during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's, during the time when water fountains, restrooms, and courtrooms were first integrated.
	Honorable Ross Robert Barnett - Interview conducted on May 8, 1971 with the Honorable Ross Robert Barnett in Jackson, Mississippi. Barnett was born on January 22, 1898 in Leake County, Mississippi. He graduated with his B.A. from Mississippi College in 1924. In 1926, he graduated from the University of Mississippi with his law degree. Barnett was inaugurated as the governor of the State of Mississippi on January 19, 1960. During his term, he was active in the States' Rights movement as well as boosting the Mississippi economy.
	Roger Barnhill - Interview conducted on November 17, 1995 with Mr. Roger Barnhill. He was born on November 12, 1940 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Barnhill was recruited into the Student Nonviolent Coordinated Committee (SNCC) in his senior year at Michigan State University. During the Mississippi Summer Project, he worked as a community liaison with the police department in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Over the summer of 1964, he canvassed voters in Moss Point, Pascagoula, Gulfport, and Biloxi, and he taught African-American history to high school students. Barnhill was arrested for taking part in a mass demonstration. After returning to Michigan State, he graduated and began working in the juvenile court in St. Louis and then at the Missouri State Board of Probation and Parole.
	Josephine Clemons Bell - Interview conducted on 10-22-1996 with Mrs. Josephine Clemons Bell (born 1909). Her teaching career in elementary education in the public school of Natchez-Adams County spans twenty-nine and a half years. After retiring in 1974, she became even more involved in politics and community affairs.
	Mayor E.S. Bishop, Sr. - Interview conducted on February 27, 1991 in the city hall of Corinth, Mississippi with Mayor Edward S. Bishop, Sr. Bishop was born in Starkville, Mississippi on December 11, 1907. In 1926, he completed high school at Jackson College, now Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. Bishop then went on to complete a BA in history and political science in 1930. Between 1930 and 1935, he taught high school in Jackson. In 1935, Bishop became principal of Scales Street School, later Easom High School, in Corinth, Mississippi, where he remained until 1969. After that, Bishop served as Director of Federal Programs for Corinth Public Schools, State Director of the Governor's Council on Children, Executive Director of the Alcorn County Human Resource Agency, and Executive Director of the Tennessee Valley Community Development Corporation. Upon the resignation of Mayor Jack Holt in 1989, Bishop was elevated to the mayor's office to complete the unfinished term.
	Maurice R. Black - Interview conducted on July 25, 1991 with Mr. Maurice Black at his home near North Carrollton, Mississippi. Black was born on October 18, 1915, near Flora, Mississippi, in Madison County. After graduating from Hinds Junior College in 1935, he attended Millsaps College. Black then enrolled in Jackson Law School and graduated with his law degree in 1938. During World War II, Black served in the Army counterintelligence in Hawaii and the South Pacific. After the war, he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he served from 1948 to 1964. After leaving the House, Black acted as attorney for the office of the Mississippi State Insurance Commissioner. In 1969, he accepted an appointment as Assistant Attorney-General and continued in this position until his retirement in 1977.
	William Joel Blass - Interview conducted on 03-26-1977 with William Joel Blass (born 1917). As a lawyer in 1952, he successfully prosecuted the Boyce Holleman case by proving that voter fraud had kept Holleman from winning. Beginning in 1953, he served two terms in Stone County's congressional seat, retiring from that position in 1960. While in office, most considered him an extreme liberal on racial issues. He favored putting truth to the policy of "separate but equal". Because he opposed the "red meat" bills proposed by the legislature's segregationists, he endured vigorous, hostile attacks on his reputation by both private citizens and state legislators.
	Unita Blackwell - Interviews conducted on 04-21-1977 and 05-12-1977 with Unita Blackwell (born 1933). Ms. Blackwell was a field worker for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1964 and also served that year as a delegate of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which went to the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as an alternative to the all-white, regular Democratic Party of Mississippi. During the late 1960's and early 1970's, Ms. Blackwell served about ten years as a community development specialist with the National Council of Negro Women. Since 1977 she has served as mayor of the Issaquena County community of Mayersville.
	Richard Boyd and Earline Boyd - Two interviews conducted on August 29, 1991 with Mr. Richard Boyd and on September 29, 1992 with Mrs. Earline Boyd. Mr. Boyd was born on July 21, 1916 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1935. After working in the Civilian Conservation Corps for one year, Mr. Boyd then returned to Hattiesburg. He worked for Hattiesburg Compress and meridian Fertilizer Company briefly before obtaining a job with Hercules, Inc., a chemical plant specializing in timber by-products. Mr. Boyd began work at Hercules, Inc. as a yard laborer in 1941 and by 1962 he became the first African-American at Hercules to work as an operator. He spent his last years at Hercules, Inc. working in the personnel department until he retired in 1977. Mr. Boyd is a Mason, a member and officer of the Forrest County branch of the NAACP, and a lifelong member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church.
	Honorable Thomas P. Brady (March 4) - Interview conducted on March 4, 1972 with Associate Justice Thomas Pickens Brady, of the Supreme Court of Mississippi in his chambers in Jackson, Mississippi. Brady was born on August 6, 1903, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated with a baccalaureate degree from Yale University in 1927. He later received a LL.B. degree from the University of Mississippi Law School in 1930. After practicing law in Brookhaven, Mississippi between 1930 and 1950, Brady served as Circuit Judge of the 14th Judicial District from 1950 to 1963. He served as a Democratic National Committeeman from 1960 to 1964. Brady was involved in the Dixiecrats, or States' Rights Democratic Party. He filled a vacancy in the Mississippi Supreme Court in July 1963 and then was re-elected to a full term commencing January of 1969. In his book, Black Monday, he explains his views of an elective Supreme Court.
	Honorable Thomas P. Brady (May 17) - Interview conducted on May 17, 1972 with Associate Justice Thomas Pickens Brady, of the Supreme Court of Mississippi in his chambers in Jackson, Mississippi. This is the second part of an interview conducted on March 4, 1972 with Judge Brady. Brady discusses a wide range of topics including the Black Monday decision, the Communist threat, the development of Mississippi, and the terms of various political officials. He goes on to recite three of his personal poems. In the addendum of this interview Brady reflects on some aspects of democracy as well as giving a commentary on modern politics and the Democratic Party.
	Raylawni Branch - Interview conducted on October 25, 1993 with Mrs. Raylawni Branch. Branch was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1941. After graduating from high school, she married and had three children. In 1965, Branch attended USM for one year. She was one of the first African Americans to attend USM. Branch returned to USM in 1988 and began working on a master's degree. She served as secretary of her local chapter of the NAACP; was a member of the Council for Federated Organizations, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, in addition to attending the March on Washington. She was the first African American to be hired at the Big Yank factory and the telephone company to a position other than that of housekeeping personnel. She helped integrate the Greyhound and Trailways bus stations. Also, Branch participated in the anti-Vietnam War movement and the storming of the Pentagon.
	R. Jesse Brown - Interview conducted on April 2, 1972 with Mr. R. Jesse Brown in Jackson, Mississippi. Brown was born in Coffeeville, Kansas, on September 2, 1912, and was raised in Oklahoma. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State Normal University and a Master of Science in Education degree from Indiana University. In 1946, Brown moved to Mississippi where he taught school for five years. After graduating from law school and passing the Bar, he began to practice law in 1954. Brown was quite active in the civil rights movement in the 1960's, particularly in providing legal counsel for civil rights workers and organizations. He discusses the objectives and problems of various civil rights legal defense organizations. He also describes the type and degree of intimidation and harassment that he has encountered and attempts to gauge the impact of the events of the 1960's upon local black citizens that were affected.
	Curtis C. Bryant - Interview conducted on 11-11-1995 with Curtis C. Bryant (born 1917). In 1961, Mr. Bryant and Bob Moses became the catalysts to start the voter registration drive in Mississippi. Bryant was also active in the NAACP and the Democratic Party. In retaliation for his civil rights work, his barber shop was bombed.
	Honorable Horace Buckley - Interview conducted on May 11, 1977 with the Honorable Horace Buckley at his home in Jackson, Mississippi. Buckley was born on July 14, 1941 in Jackson, Mississippi. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Mississippi Valley State and his master's degree in guidance counseling/educational psychology from Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. In 1975, Buckley was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives to serve a four-year consecutive term. While in the legislature, he worked on the Judiciary B. Committee, Education Committee and the Penitentiary Committee. Buckley was appointed to the Select Committee on Education and is a member to the National Assembly of State Legislators, representing Mississippi as a member of that body's Education Committee. In addition, he was the commissioner for the City of Jackson's Housing Authority, member of the Jackson District Association, and Minister and Pastor of the Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
	Professor N.R. Burger - Interview conducted on May 11, 1982 with Professor NR Burger at his residence in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Burger was born on April 7, 1909 in Brookhaven, Mississippi. In 1932, he completed his undergraduate degree from Alcorn College (now Alcorn State University). He earned a Master's degree from Cornell University and then went on to study at New York University. Burger taught mathematics at Magnolia, Mississippi from 1934 to 1936. He served as principal at Hopewell Vocational School in Covington County from 1936 to 1940. Until his retirement in 1974, Burger served as principal at Eureka High School (later Rowan High School). He was very active in his community through his work with various organizations such as the Hattiesburg Business Development Council, the Mississippi Principals Association, and the Resolutions Committee of the National Teachers Association. In addition, Burger organized the first Boy Scouts troop for African Americans in South Mississippi.
	Dr. William A. Butts - Interview conducted on March 3, 1976 with Dr. William A. Butts at his office on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. Butts was born in 1933 near Kilmichael, Mississippi. After graduating high school, he went on to complete two years of study at Mississippi Vocational College (now Mississippi Valley State University) in Itta Bena. In 1953, Butts joined the US Army and after he completed his tour of duty he went on to earn his B.S. degree in political science in 1957. He received his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and went on to teach at Mississippi Valley State and Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. In 1975, Butts was appointed president of Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky.
	Honorable Tony Byrne - Interview conducted on September 17, 1980 with the Honorable Tony Byrne, former mayor of Natchez, Mississippi at his office in the Natchez City Hall. Byrne was born on May 18, 1936 in Natchez, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State University on an athletic scholarship and graduated with a degree in marketing in 1958. In 1966, Byrne won a special election to the Natchez Board of Aldermen and in 1968 Mr. Byrne was elected mayor of Natchez. He served five terms as mayor before retiring from public office in 1988. Byrne has been active in civic and professional organizations. He served as president of the Natchez Jaycees as well as president of the Mississippi Municipal Association. Governor John Bell Williams appointed Byrne to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.